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Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins

Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $13.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A mix of spoof, serious action for film out of its time
Review: I remember my Dad reading The Destroyer novels as a kid. I often wondered what the appeal was in this series about a former cop/Bond wannabe named after a bedpan. While it isn't completely faithful to the source material, Guy Hamilton's Remo Williams captures some of the absurdity that made these novels so memorable as pulp fiction. Hamilton's tone as director (and the script)are an extension of the tongue in cheek Bond thrillers starring Roger Moore. Although this might seem a stretch, if you enjoyed films like Buckaroo Banzai, Big Trouble in Little China and the stronger Moore based Bond films (what an interesting cross section!), you'll enjoy Remo Williams.

The plot is pretty straight forward: Fred Ward plays a police officer who "reborn" to play the role of action hero. The performances capture much of the original characters from the novels. I suppose the best way to view this film is as a 70's and 80's variation on the Doc Savage pulp novels. The exception is that Doc here is an oafish fool part of the time.

MGM has done an exceptional job lately with its two for one Midnite Matinee DVDs and reissues. Sadly, Remo Williams is botched from the first frame; MGM chose to release this full frame vs. widescreen. Now it's entirely possible that Hamilton shot this in standard aspect ratio and matted it afterwards for theater exhibition (which is what Kubrick did with many of his films after Barry Lyndon--he was unhappy with the cropping of his films for television so shot them in standard aspect ratio, i.e., framed for t.v., then matted them for the theater. That way he had control over both versions of the film). Regardless, it should have been noted on the box (a flaw with the Kubrick films The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut as well).

There aren't any extras and, given the market for this film, that's not a surprise. Still, the least MGM could have done was include a running commentary from stars Fred Ward and Joel Grey. Perhaps neither one was available or interested. Still, with Hamitlon deceased, I would have been interested in hearing their take on the film. The reason this is lacking in extras is the same reason that films like Horror of Dracula is lacking extras--it's not cost effective for MGM to do it. A pity as Anchor & Bay could have done a bang up job (like they did with The Three Musketeers DVD although that one was also missing a commentary track).

Fans of Remo Williams will just have to be happy that the film is finally available on DVD. I've only seen the film on TNT (also in full screen format)a couple times over the past years. While it's not the perfect package, I am thankful that MGM chose to release this and not just let it languish in their film vault. Somewhere there has to be outtakes, interviews, press interviews, etc. We'll have to wait another day for those I suppose.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: big disappointment
Review: classic 80's adventure and one of my favorite movies of all time. i had been waiting years for this to be put on DVD and screamed with glee, like a little girl when i saw that it was. then my joy was killed when i read the fine print. it is only in full screen format. all theatrical releases (with the exception of Kubrick's films) are shot in some form of widescreen. whether it is 1.85:1 or 2.2:1 or whatever, they are always shot in widescreen. so why they didn't use the origial print in order to restore this film is beyond me. they didn't even add any extras. i don't see the point in putting it on DVD then. you are better off with the VHS version or just catch it on cable.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Remo Williams..........the Destroyer on the silver screen
Review: I originally saw this at the theater when it opened. I was a fond reader of 'The Destroyer' books by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir. I thought the cast was excellent as well as the acting and action. Fred Ward was a great choice as Remo as well as Joel Grey as Chiun, master of Sinanju. Unfortunately for me, this movie didn't spawn any sequels........yet! Hopefully there are others in hollywood that would like to make some Destroyer movies. It would be nice if the DVD had more to offer like bloopers, deleted scenes, commentaries or even an interview with Murphy and Sapir. This is why I'm only giving the dvd 4 out of 5 stars. The movie itself is one of my all-time favorites because I liked the books. If you didn't read the books, you probably won't know what is going on.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Named after a bead pan he is hard as'
Review: When there are evil doers in this world and all seems to be lost. A one man or a team of extraordinary people will rise up and protect us from H.A.R.M. The one is Remo Williams (Fred Ward). Like a phoenix rises from the ashes of his old life in the justice system he acquires the ability and agility needed to foil the foe. It is this extraordinary transformation that transfixes us. Joel Gray is the recluse Korean that takes in this water buffalo and treats him like a son.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Remo Williams: The Adventure Continues
Review: I bought this movie the year it came out on Video. I had seen the original release and I loved the characterizations. I have had it on my shelf for years and regularly someone picks it up and watches it. My stepsons that were young teens when they first viewed it and are now grown men enjoy it as well. Even my wife and other women find it entertaining. So much so we decided to name our new Tonkinese "Chiun, Master of Sinaju". Although I was never crazy about Kate Mulgrews performance it does by no means kill the movie. What killed this movie is the time in which it was released. The public didn't want a fantasy film as much then. It came across that way with the dodging bullets and walking on water. Over the years it has developed a following from fans of the book series, and people like myself that find it entertaining. This movie never takes itself very serious so critics, especially the one they have as the opening review, needs to lighten up. They obviously take themselves way to serious. I continue to hope they will bring this out on DVD since my VHS copy is showing it's age, not to mention DVD sound and picture quality are always better than VHS. If you somehow have missed this one, rent it and you will see an 80s movie that may be a bit dated but will still entertain like the older James Bond movies. The movie was entertaining enough to get a short lived TV series with Roddy McDowell but not follow on sequel movies unfortunately. I am happy to say you can now pre-order the DVD.

P.S. Water Buffalo? I thought he was a Pregnant Yak.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: "Alot of thought went into it"
Review: I don't think anyone can dodge bullets if a whole clip is discharged in a matter of seconds. Fortunately, for our super heros the guys stand and take aim, shots are spaced out about 5 seconds apart giving them time to hear the muscles in the trigger finger start to clinch. And why can't Joel Gray take on the bad guy and his evil operation? Who needs Remo? Okay, this movie is crazy but I loved it. Fred Ward gets stuck with a life he doesn't want but has nothing better to do. The scene from the Statue of Liberty is not recommended for people with a fear of heights. I actually wish they'd done another Remo but I guess it wasn't popular enough and understandably so. Joel Gray's antics are a little much but I'd have to say the show is entertaining even if it is ludicrous.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Remo, where for art thou?
Review: A movie for the Destroyer fan, but really nobody else. It's not that true to the origins of Remo of the details of CURE. BUT there is much more Chiun - not just the bit part Karate instructor in the original book. Contrary to the info here, it WAS filmed at the Statue of Liberty during cunstruction - it was the ONLY movie shot there. There was ALSO a replica of the top created in Mexico. For some strange reason, nobody wanted this guy stomping on the REAL statue. If you're a fan, get it. If you like adventure movies, it's on a par with the Mat Helm flicks (campy, does not take itself seriously.)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great "father-son" film
Review: Most reviewers have missed the point. There are many amusing moments, but the film isn't a comedy. There is a good deal of martial arts, but I wouldn't call it a martial arts film. There is even some insight into politics and corruption. It's not an easy film to pigeon-hole (and that's what most people need to do). Closest would be an action-adventure film, but even that misses the most important point. That point should be obvious to anyone who has ever been a father. It's about the development of the father-son relationship between the martial arts Master and Remo (who are not biologically related). The growth of this relationship is beautifully portrayed by Joel Grey (the Master) and Fred Ward (Remo). The climax occurs near the very end, when Remo addresses the Master as "Little Father." To understand what that means, you have to watch the film from start to finish, which I have done with great enjoyment several times. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Funny
Review: A freind brote over an old tape of a movie frrom HBO and told me I had to watch it. I was blow away. It's not a great piece of cinema, barely noteworthy, but the bad jokes and average action sequenches kept me enthralled. I new from the start this wasn't gonna be good and I never was more right and more wrong at the same time. The movie isn't great, but once you get past that, it is purely entertaining. Great for those days when you need some light hearted comedy without all those buggy storylines to get in the way.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my favorites...
Review: Thank goodness there are customer reviews allowed. If everyone had only the politically correct site review no one would want to watch this movie. Maybe that's ok. I have used up two VHS tapes so far (I really like the movie & I don't need to share.) Those of us that have seen the movie, know it to be a very fun film. You don't need to now about the Destroyer books to like the interaction between the main characters.
I just wish someone would put this one on DVD.


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